Starbucks holiday cups and drinks are back. Here's what's on the winter menu
Get your Michael Bublé and corporate popcorn gift baskets ready; according to Starbucks, it's officially Christmas.
The popular coffee chain, which is known for non-verbally deciding when the seasons begin and end, has once again determined (probably about 4 weeks early) that it's time for a change. With the launch of five new holiday cups — and six winter beverages to fill them — the company has told us, without words, that Pumpkin Spice is old news.
AKA, forget fall. It's time to haul out the holly.
Here are all the cup designs and menu items Starbucks is offering this season.
The cups
Five new holiday cups were unveiled at Starbucks on Thursday. One of their photos (above) features four of the "hot" ones.
According to their designer, Bridget Shilling, the cups' names (from left to right) are Bauble Wrap, Party Plaid, Peppermint Swirl and Ribbon Spool.
Each also has a back story, but — invoking themes of "imperfection" and the "shared human experience" — I think that's a little deep for some glorified Dixie products.
To each their own, though. You can read them at https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2023/a-sneak-peek-of-starbucks-holiday-cups/.
There's only one "cold cup" — the Frosted Bauble, so for those residing in toasty Jacksonville, Dallas and Santa Fe? Hopefully, you're into "snowy white sparkles," because that's all you're getting this year.
The drinks
As aforementioned, Starbucks is offering six new drinks for the 2023 holidays.
Here are each:
Peppermint Mocha
Just like Santa Claus, this winter superstar is back for another annual appearance. Featuring Starbucks' signature Espresso Roast, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, most people enjoy the beverage hot, but I like it best as a blended Frappucino (topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings).
Caramel Brulée Latte
I don't know if this is new or not, but it sounds pretty good. Available hot, iced or as a Frappucino, the drink has a base of espresso, steamed milk and caramel brulée sauce, and a topping of whipped cream and more caramel brulée bits.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Not new; features espresso, steamed milk, flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices. Toppings include whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs.
Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
Starbucks' Oleato beverages combine olive oil with coffee for, in the company's words, "a velvety smooth, deliciously lush coffee experience." The fancy blend is served at the chain's most high-end locations; including Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan, and other Italy stores.
If you happen to live near a wealthy 'Bucks that serves Oleato — and like salad dressing in your lattes — then, you can indulge in this new gingerbread-flavored drink.
New this year, this cold beverage is a traditional chai latte that also includes gingerbread syrup, a blend of spices and oat milk.
Comes in the Bauble cup.
Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
Seeing that this is number two of two in the cold beverage category, I guess Starbucks is no longer capable of making holiday iced drinks with dairy in them.
But whatever, hipsters. Take the milk.
Just leave the sprinkles. We don't care if they have dyes.
The food
In addition to the above drinks, Starbucks is also serving five festive food items this year. They include the:
Gingerbread Loaf
Cranberry Bliss Bar
Snowman Cookie
Sugar Plum Cheese Danish
And Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop
I don't have pictures of most of them (copyright laws are a you-know-what), but I do have opinions — and that Gingerbread Loaf? A solid 10/10.
So, use Starbucks' store locator to find a shop near you, and go deck the damn halls with that 380-calorie masterpiece.
The drinks, even in their new cups, are secondary.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, join our NorthJerseyEats Facebook group, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Starbucks holiday cups, drinks are back. Here's the winter menu
